Lorgat Hopes Westfield Sentence Acts As Deterrent

Lorgat Hopes Westfield Sentence Acts As Deterrent

Lorgat: "Although the ICC is not directly involved in this case, we have followed it closely. While the ICC takes no pleasure from anyone being sent to jail, it is a decision of the court which we support and I believe would act as a deterrent to anyone who is tempted to sully the good name of cricket."

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International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat believes that the four-month prison sentence handed to former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield should act as a deterrent to anybody tempted to get involved with match-fixing in cricket.

He said the ICC was fully supportive of the court's decision and commended the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on its anti-corruption measures.

"Although the ICC is not directly involved in this case, we have followed it closely," he said.

"While the ICC takes no pleasure from anyone being sent to jail, it is a decision of the court which we support and I believe would act as a deterrent to anyone who is tempted to sully the good name of cricket.

"The ICC operates a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and will use everything within its power to ensure that any corrupt activity within the game is comprehensively investigated and, where possible, robustly prosecuted.  We have always stated that we will follow every possible avenue to ensure the integrity of cricket is protected.

"In November 2010, the ICC Board required all Members to implement a domestic anti-corruption code which mirrors that of the ICC and the fact that this offence took place in a domestic competition is a timely reminder for us never to be complacent.”

"In the context of domestic vigilance, the ICC acknowledges the commendable steps taken by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in setting up their domestic anti-corruption ACCESS Unit."

© Cricket World 2012